Wayne Week — April 14, 2024

N E W OL D NORT H M E DI A PR E SE N T S A W E E K LY N E WS M AG A Z I N E

A PR I L 14 , 2 024

N E WOL DNORT H .C OM

Wayne

WEEK

UNTIL THEY COME HOME

As hundreds of members of the 4th Fighter Wing begin tours overseas, their deployment is another opportunity for Wayne County to wrap its arms around Seymour Johnson AFB. Page 14

NEWS State Auditor's Office is investigating Town of Mount Olive. p. 12

WCPS superintendent presents proposed 2024-25 budget. p. 16

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CONTENTS 5 Worth gets another delay APRIL 14, 2024 Volume 1, Issue 35

NEWOLDNORTH .CO M

EDITORIAL

Just a few days after his co-defendant, former Wayne County Sheriff's Office Drug Unit Chief Michael Cox, pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud, former WCSO Maj. Christopher Worth has asked for — and received — another month to continue discussions that could lead to a plea deal that would help him avoid a jury trial and a potential life sentence.

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8 Freedom Fest will honor deployed

As members of the 4th Fighter Wing begin a several-month tour overseas, local officials, including those who put on N.C. Freedom Fest, say they are working to ensure locally-stationed airmen and their families are not forgotten.

12 State auditor eyeing Mount Olive The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor has notified the Town of Mount Olive that it is under investigation after a confidential whistleblower made allegations of "improper conduct."

13 Best of the Boot 2024 is almost here It is almost time for local residents to nominate their favorites in more than 100 categories to see who will, a few months from now, take home top honors in Wayne County's premier best-of contest.

16 BOE gets a look at budget

Wayne County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard presented his proposed spending plan to members of the Board of Education, but he also delivered more than one warning about everything from decreasing enrollment to the soon-to-be gone COVID relief funds that have helped WCPS complete projects for the last several years.

20 The Spectator

The white-hot Charles B. Aycock baseball team defeated South Johnston Wednesday evening to remain undefeated in conference play. The Golden Falcons moved to 11-2 on the season with the victory.

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NEWS +VIEWS Worth asks for more time to work on deal after Cox’s guilty plea For the fifth time, a federal judge has granted a former Wayne County Sheriff’s Office major a continuance as he seeks a plea deal.

BY KEN FINE AND RENEE CAREY

L

ess than a week after his co-defendant — and alleged co-conspirator — pleaded guilty to defrauding Wayne County via what former Wayne County Sheriff ’s Office Drug Unit Chief Michael Cox told a federal judge was a bid-rigging scheme executed, in part, via mail and wire fraud, a man who served as one of the WCSO’s highest-ranking officials just a few months ago has asked for more time to continue discussions with the government that, those close to the case say, will likely result in a plea agreement.

Former WCSO Maj. Christopher Worth, through his attorney, Kelly Greene, asked for — and received — another month to “work in good faith with prosecutors for a non-trial resolution” to a saga that began with an FBI investigation and culminated in August 2023 when a grand jury handed down a sprawling 50-plus-page indictment that resulted in Cox and Worth being taken into custody.

And while Worth’s alleged crimes would not, should he be convicted, command as much prison time as what Cox was facing — Cox, the former Drug Unit chief, was also accused of, and pleaded guilty to, conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and oxycodone — the 12 financial crimes-related counts Worth is up against would, were he found guilty of all of them, carry a potential of decades in prison.

When asked by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Myers II March 27 if he was guilty of the crimes he and Worth allegedly committed together, Cox replied, “Yes sir.”

And while it remains unclear whether the former deputy agreed to testify against Worth as part of the plea agreement Myers signed off on that day in a Wilmington courtroom — the contents of the deal are still sealed — his co-defendant, whose arraignment was scheduled for Wednesday, quickly requested a continuance, and is now set to appear before Myers May 7.

According to the indictment, as soon as Worth was promoted, in 2016, to captain in charge of the WCSO’s Support Services division, he became responsible for “coordinating and vetting” bids from vendors on “various” contracts.

But while he was required to comply

Chris Worth with certain procurement requirements “to ensure that county business was conducted with fairness and dignity,” the government alleges he used his position to ensure Cox’s company, Eastern Emergency Equipment, received contract after contract from the WCSO — acts, prosecutors claim, enriched both Worth and Cox. The following examples reflect some of the evidence Cox told Myers was true before the judge agreed to accept his guilty plea to mail and wire fraud: • February 2016 — Worth and Cox communicated by text about a $29,055 balance owed for “all the camera and radio installs.”

After Cox (who was head of the Drug Unit at this time) inquired about what kind of letter he would need to write “to get drug money moved,” Worth responded that he needed a quote on the radios since he would need to “pay it out of another account.” Worth then requested that Cox “[b]ack date it [the quote] if you can.”

• May 2017 — Worth emailed the following to Cox, “Need you to resend the bill for your Tahoe. Each bill needs to be under $2,500.” By splitting the bill in this manner, Worth was able to avoid having

to obtain a purchase order, which would have required submitting three quotes to County Purchasing. Later that same day, Cox submitted split EEE invoices for the “upfit” of his assigned WCSO Tahoe. Pursuant to Worth’s instructions, Cox split the $4,613.28 charge into two invoices for less than $2,500.

The split invoices were received by WCSO on May 5, 2017, but WCSO backdated the approval dates to match EEE’s backdated invoice dates (April 17 and April 26, 2017).

• May 2017 — WCSO received split invoices from EEE for the sale of eight TLR1 gun lights. EEE dated one invoice April 26, 2017, and the second invoice May 5, 2017.

The gun light invoices were divided in such a manner as to ensure each bill was under $1,000. Although the invoices were stamped received by WCSO staff on May 8, 2017, Support Services backdated the approval dates to match EEE’s backdated invoice dates (April 26 and May 5, 2017).

• June 2018 — Worth texted Cox and ordered a K-9 crate and electronic door popper from Cox without any attempt to comply with the three-quote requirement.

• January 2019 — Cox installed a “Truck Vault” on the WCSO Sheriffs 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe. A Truck Vault is a secure storage unit for the back of a vehicle, either in the trunk or back of an SUV. The total charge by EEE was $2,147.92. Because the amount in issue exceeded $1,000, the Manual required three independent quotes be obtained by WCSO for such a contract. To avoid triggering the threequote requirement, Cox split the cost into two $1,073.36 invoices and then applied a 10% discount to bring each invoice to $972.96. In order to help Worth conceal the fact that the split invoices actually related to only one truck vault, Cox used different invoice numbers and dates. He dated invoice number 3318 as January 3, 2019, while invoice number 3202 was dated January 9, 2019. Worth approved both invoices and backdated his approvals to match the dates on Cox’s invoices (January 3 and 9, 2019). Payment of the invoices was included in a larger check written to EEE in the sum of $3,450.31. This check, which was numbered 360750, was mailed by County Finance to EEE on or about January 17, 2019.

• September 2019 — Cox requested that

the West Chatham Sales Rep provide him with a fictitious “upfit” quote for use by EEE in obtaining WCSO’s “upfit” contracts. The Sales Rep agreed to prepare the fictitious quote in order to curry favor with Cox, who she considered a friend and one of her valued retail clients. Cox assured her that he was guaranteed to get the contract but stated that WCSO needed more than one quote.

Cox provided the Sales Rep with a copy of EEE’s quote in order to assist the Sales Rep in preparing a higher West Chatham’s quote.

As a result, the Sales Rep was able to inflate the fictitious quote to ensure EEE’s quote would win the contract. On September 16, 2019, the Sales Rep transmitted the fictitious quote from her work email account at West Chatham in Georgia, to Cox’s email account in the Eastern District of North Carolina. The bid, which was completely fictitious, provided an “upfit” quote of $5,063.35 per vehicle, including $1,000 for labor and $125 for freight.

Although the fictitious bid was addressed to “Wayne Co Sheriff Office,” the Sales Rep sent the bid to COX at EEE, rather than to WCSO. • 2019 — Worth used the West Chatham and Performance Automotive quotes to justify the award of 14 “upfit” contracts to EEE. Although the quotes covered parts specific to a Dodge Charger, the awards related to four Dodge Trucks and two Chevy Tahoes.

The following is a summary of the manner in which Wayne County paid the invoices: (a) Four Dodge Truck upfits - Wayne County paid EEE the sum of $17,587.83 by mailing Wayne County check number 374717 to EEE on or about November 21, 2019. (b) Eight Dodge Charger upfits - Wayne County paid EEE the sum of $35,175.66 by mailing Wayne County check number 376372 to EEE on or about.December 31, 2019. (c) Two Chevy Tahoe upfits- Wayne County paid EEE the sum of $8,782.44 by mailing Wayne County check number 379451 to EEE on or about March 5, 2020.

• April 2020 — Worth texted Cox and directed him to prepare a false invoice by stating as follows, “[m]e and Brian got a phone holder each. Will you bill as a pair of shoes.”

• August 2020 — Cox texted Worth as follows: “You got a list of equipment or either Continued on page 6 newoldnorth.com

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Continued from page 5

PROVIDING QUALITY, AFFORDABLE INSURANCE SINCE 1927

your password to log in or sign on.” Worth responded as follows: performancepolice. com chris. WORTH@waynegov.com ******** [Password has been redacted for purposes of Superseding Indictment]. Because Worth had corruptly provided Cox with access to Performance Automotive’s pricing, Cox realized that Performance Automotive’s quote would be lower than EEE’s quote. In order to rig the process in his favor and beat Performance Automotive’s quote, Cox reduced EEE’s line item charge for “HAV- C-ARM-103 Adjustable Flip Armrest” to zero. This allowed

EEE to beat the Performance Automotive quote by $31.05. In order to recoup the cost of the armrests, Cox would later present WCSO with a separate bill for nine of the armrests.

In exchange for his guilty plea, 11 of the 12 financial crime charges levied against Cox are expected to be dismissed when he is sentenced in June, should he live up to the terms of the agreement he made with the government.

Worth, however, is still facing them and they include specific examples of alleged mail and wire fraud.

The following are spelled out in the indictment:

REMAINING COUNTS IN THE WORTH CASE MAIL FRAUD Gaston Lewis

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COUNT

DATE

DESCRIPTION

3

1/17/2019

County of Wayne check number 360750 mailed to Eastern Emergency Equipment, LLC (“EEE”) in payment of $1,845.92 relating to a truck vault installed in the Sheriff’s Tahoe.

4

11/21/2019

County of Wayne check number 374717 mailed to EEE in payment of $17,587.83 relating to four Dodge Truck “upfits.”

5

12/31/2019

County of Wayne check number 376372 mailed to EEE in payment of a bill for $35,175.66 in connection with eight Dodge Charger “upfits.”

6

3/5/2020

County of Wayne check number 379451 mailed to EEE in payment of a bill for $8,782.44 relating to two Chevy Tahoe “upfits.”

200 EAST SPRUCE STREET, GOLDSBORO • 919-735-1237 • OBERRY-LEWIS.COM

REACH THE BROKEN. EXPOSE THE DARKNESS. SAVE LIVES. 1 0 T H A N N UA L

5 K & 1 M I L E F U N WA L K SATURDAY, MAY 11

7 AM REGISTRATION | 8 AM RACE BEGINS

County of WayneBROKEN. check number 14360 mailed to EEE in payment THE 7 REACH 10/31/2020

EXPOSE THE DARKNESS. County of Wayne check number 15484 mailed to EEE in payment 8 12/7/2020 SAVE LIVES. of a bill for $4,396.96 relating to a Chevy Tahoe “upfit.” of a bill for $40,735.32 relating to nine Dodge Durango “upfits.”

9

4/30/2021

10

5/11/2021

AWARDS | PRIZES | FAMILY FUN

SCAN TO REGISTER

by April 30 & raise over $100 to receive a FREE tshirt!

1 0TH County of Wayne number A Ncheck N UA L 21789 mailed to EEE in payment of a bill for $4,526.15 relating to a Chevy Tahoe “upfit.”

5 K & 1 M I L E F U N WA L K WIRE FRAUD

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WALNUT CREEK TOWN HALL

For more information, please call 919-920-5189

County of Wayne check number 21562 mailed to EEE in payment of a bitt for $1,033.57 relating to nine Dodge Durango armrests.

Email transmitting fictitious MAYquote 11from West Chatham Warning 9/16/2019 SATURDAY, Device (“West Chatham”) from Savannah, Georgia, to Cox’s 7 AM REGISTRATION | 8 AMsent RACE BEGINS email in Eastern District of North Carolina.

WALNUT CREEK TOWN HALL

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Email |from Worth’s|work email account AWARDS PRIZES FAMILY FUNin the Eastern District of 8/31/2020 For more information, please 919-920-5189 North Carolina to Cox’scall Yahoo email account providing Cox with Worth’s username and password to Performance Automotive’s website listing prices used in “upfit” installations.

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9/16/2020

Email transmitting fictitious West Chatham quote from Cox’s Yahoo email account to Worth’s work email account in the District of North Carolina.

SCAN TO Eastern REGISTER

by April 30 & raise over $100 to receive a FREE tshirt!

Note: Victim named in all counts is 'Wayne County.'

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Freedom Fest will honor deployed, their families

As hundreds of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base airmen spend the next several months across the world, local military advocates say the time is now to support them — and those they left behind.

BY KEN FINE

I

t won’t be about the headliner or the food trucks.

It won’t be about the carnival rides or games.

It won’t be about the crafts, T-shirts, and other items that will be on sale.

And it won’t be about the beer garden or car show.

The truth is, it never really has been.

But this year, N.C. Freedom Fest officials say there is even more reason to remember why the event was born in the first place, as hundreds of members of the 4th Fighter Wing have already been deployed to an undisclosed base overseas and others will soon join them for what has been described as a “significant” assignment that, in order to ensure operational security, remains under wraps.

And while Seymour Johnson Air Force Base officials declined the opportunity to comment on the deployment, Freedom Fest creator Doug McGrath said as word has spread about the movement over the last several months, the knowledge that those young men and women will not be in attendance at an event designed, in part, to honor their sacrifices, brings with it a tremendous responsibility.

Continued on page 11

Doug McGrath

SEND US YOUR THOUGHTS Want to sound off on the issues we’re covering?

Send your thoughts to letters@newoldnorth. com and we just might publish them in a future edition of Wayne Week.Word count is not overly important, but please identify yourself by name and the city or town you reside in.

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Continued from page 8

That is why this fall’s event will be dedicated to them — and those they were forced to leave behind while they serve.

“You know, it’s part of military life.

Members get deployed. So, Freedom Fest is being sensitive to that. It will be part of the programming. It may be part of the cover of the official program. There will be nuances to the elements and planning of Freedom Fest,” he said. “And we’re going to be sensitive to the fact that it’s not just those who wear the uniform that are living through this. It’s about those who are connected to the ones wearing the uniform, too. They are making tremendous sacrifices right now.”

So, officials will continue working on a way to connect the two groups during the event — perhaps, live-streaming the festivities so they can be viewed across the world.

Right now, it’s just an idea.

But McGrath said he has seen what can happen when a good one catches on.

“One of the things we would love to do is have a live video feed so we can demonstrate that we do remember everyone who is deployed,” he said. “How cool would it be to get a live feed from here to wherever they are?”

And how powerful, he added, would it be if that live feed showed deployed members of the 4th

just how many people converged on downtown Goldsboro to, in part, stand beside them?

“N.C. Freedom Fest is wildly patriotic and it’s not partisan. We have operated in a post-COVID environment and we have had,

was to pause and say ‘thank you’ to those who serve. If ever there is a time and a place for us to do that, it’s 2024 — in an environment where there are a lot of people who aren’t here because they are forward deployed.”

If ever there is a time and a place for us to do that, it's 2024 — in an environment where there are a lot of people who aren't here because they are forward deployed.

I think, strong attendance these last few years,” he said. “But with everything that is in play right now, I think we are going to have unprecedented attendance this year.

You know, the whole reason we started this

And if ever there was a time to show military leaders and policymakers in Washington just how much Seymour Johnson means to Goldsboro and Wayne County, it is now, McGrath added, as the recent announcement

that the Air Force will soon retire dozens of its F-15E Strike Eagles — and that the 4th is losing one of its fighter squadrons and shifting its mission to a training-only path — means that this moment, more than ever, is the time for the community to show the nation that the county that houses SJAFB is as motivated as ever to ensure the base has a bright future.

“We already know … that people above the Seymour Johnson chain of command see something different in terms of our commitment to our base and its personnel,” he said. “So, here’s another shining opportunity for us to demonstrate that.”

This year’s Freedom Fest will take place on Saturday, Sept. 7 and the main stages will be located on the Freedom Field across from the HUB on Center Street.

Those who attend are encouraged to wear red in honor of the “R.E.D.” or “Remember Everyone Deployed” initiative to show their support for the locally-stationed men and women who will, during the event, still be down range.

Those who would like to sponsor Freedom Fest, volunteer their time, or get updates on the schedule as it is released — including the soon-to-come announcement of a musical headliner McGrath is certain will “blow people away” — can check ncfreedomfest.org or follow the event via its Facebook page.n

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N.C. Auditor’s Office investigating Mount Olive State officials say “allegations of improper conduct” have been made, prompting the probe.

BY KEN FINE

A

few weeks before the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor sent the preliminary findings of its Goldsboro audit to leaders inside City Hall, the Town of Mount Olive was notified that it was under investigation by the same office.

In an email sent to Town Manager Jammie Royall Dec. 20, which was obtained by Wayne Week via a confidential source, Staff Auditor Jenna Murphy wrote that NCOSA had received “allegations of improper conduct” regarding the town.

“I am an investigator with the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor. OSA investigates allegations of improper governmental conduct by state agencies or state employees within our statutory authority,” the email reads. “OSA received allegations regarding the Town of Mount Olive.”

Murphy then requested a series of documents to “assist with the triage of the allegations.” They include: - The town’s personnel policy.

- The town’s secondary employment policy.

- The town’s procurement policy.

- All open and closed board minutes from June 1, 2020, to the present.

- All of William Carroll Turner’s contract(s) of employment entered into between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2023.

- All documents pertaining to the sidewalk construction performed on Church Street in 2022.

And based on a second email obtained by Wayne Week, it appears Turner, the Town

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Attorney whose name appears in the aforementioned list, responded by requesting specifics from the complaint — an ask that was denied by Investigative Audit Director Katie Gleason.

“North Carolina General Statute 147-64.6 (d) states that all ‘… audit work papers and related supportive material are confidential …’ We consider the complaints received into our office to be related to supportive materials, and therefore are confidential and not to be shared,” Gleason replied. “That is why we can’t share specifics of the complaint. Further, N.C.G.S. 14764.6B (a) states ‘Individuals who make a report under this section may choose to remain anonymous until the individual affirmatively consents to having his or her identity disclosed.’ Therefore, we can’t disclose the complainant or anything that could possibly identify the complainant.”

But Gleason did tell Turner, in general terms, the scope of the NCOSA’s investigation.

“The general topics of the complaints we received are as follows: secondary employment policy violations, conflict of interest, and procurement violations,” she wrote.

A call to the NCOSA for comment has not yet been returned and a request for the official notification sent to the town from the State Auditor’s Office was not fulfilled.

But Town Clerk Sherry Davis did acknowledge that “a complaint had been filed by an individual” and the information requested by the NCOSA had been provided by the town.n Note: This is a developing story.

As more details become available, they will be published in a future edition of Wayne Week.

. The town’s personnel policy. . The town’s secondary employment policy.

. The town’s procurement policy. . All open and closed board minutes from June 1, 2020, to the present.

“North Carolina General Statute 147-64.6 (d) states that all ‘…audit work papers and related supportive material are confidential…’ We consider the complaints received into our office to be related to supportive materials, and therefore are confidential and not to be shared,” Gleason replied. “That is why we can’t share specifics of the complaint. Further, N.C.G.S. 147-64.6B (a) states ‘Individuals who make a report under this section may choose to remain anonymous until the individual affirmatively consents to having his or her identity disclosed.’

Therefore, we can’t disclose the complainant or anything that could possibly identify the complainant.”

Let the games begin...

W ★

★

e started Best of the Boot during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to give local business something to get excited about as they navigated an unprecedented struggle.

We had no idea that the contest would explode — that within a few years, more than 10,000 local residents would weigh in on everything from the best place to get a burger to their favorite teacher.

And this year, as hard as it is to imagine, we anticipate even more participation.

The nomination window — your chance to ensure your favorites make the ballot — will be opened in the coming weeks. Then, it will be time to vote.

To ensure you don’t miss out on the opportunity to get involved, follow New Old North on Facebook and Instagram.

And don’t worry. Those of you who aren’t exactly computer savvy will have a chance to clip a nomination form — and a ballot — out of future editions of Wayne Week so you can send them our way.

But as you do, we hope you will remember that Best of the Boot is not really about who wins or gets a coveted “Finalist” sticker to press onto their storefront.

It is an opportunity for all of us to remember just how lucky we are to live in this little slice of Eastern North Carolina — and to honor the men and women who represent the backbone of this community.

COMING LATER THIS MONTH! newoldnorth.com

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{our TAKE }

W

e have been here before as a community, so we know what to do.

It comes with the territory when you have the honor of being the adopted hometown of thousands of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base airmen and their families.

For generations and decades, the Wayne County community has understood how important that role is.

So, now that word is out that there will be a significant deployment of SJAFB personnel, it is no longer just about a cheery greeting in a grocery store or a handshake and a “thank you for your service” at a restaurant.

This is a call for next-level support.

There are moments when a community has to step up in a big way. And this is one of them.

When our airmen, and we do consider them part of our family here, are called into service, when they are deployed to locations far away as part of their mission of protecting our nation and our Allies, we have to be ready to be there for them and the families who are left behind.

And this community has always been and always will be.

Now is the time to get ready to provide that support.

There are many ways to help.

If you are a neighbor, offer a hand with the “honey do” tasks that would otherwise stress a husband or wife and mother or father left on his or her own for months.

If your children go to school with a military child or children, be ready with an offer of a ride home or just a little extra support to help alleviate the stress on a parent who now has to juggle being Dad and Mom. Take the time to talk to your own children about being supportive of their classmates and help them understand how military children might be feeling as they watch their mothers or fathers deploy.

And speaking of those children, as adults, keep in mind the stress and the unknown they will have to deal with. Extra patience, extra support and perhaps a shoulder and someone to talk to — those can be invaluable, especially for teenagers.

The professionals in our local schools are already gearing up to provide that support, but our churches, after school programs, and athletic teams should be ready as well.

This is the time to organize support efforts — and there are so many options.

What about the offer of a lawn-mowing?

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Tie a yellow ribbon

How about a casserole club that rotates in a meal one day a week for the family of a deployed airman?

Even something as simple as a play date while she or he has a moment to catch up on housework or make a trip to the grocery store could be a bit of relief for a military spouse.

Because here’s the thing. Most of the families of SJAFB airmen would never think to

ask for help. They are very skilled at managing while their spouse is away and often do not want to be seen as a burden to their neighbors.

But sometimes, the small offers of help — the unexpected support — are what make the difference.

We know that because we have been down this road before.

We just have to remember how to offer

without pressure, without interfering, and without expectation — that even if that offer is not what that spouse or child needs right now, it might be a comfort to know that an extra hand is there if the need does arise.

We cannot imagine what it is like to have to say goodbye to a loved one who faces the unknown of a deployment. And we cannot even fathom how hard it is to know you will be separated from your

children for months on end.

All we can do is be there — and be grateful for their sacrifice.

And let’s not forget the single airmen who have been and will be called to duty. Some of them have no family nearby and might have a beloved pet who needs a temporary spot to wait for their return.

Imagine how hard it must be to know you have no option for your best friend and to maybe have to consider surrendering them to a shelter.

This is a need that often is missed — and the results can be devastating.

Why not put together an army of temporary fosters ready to step in so that when those airmen return, their pets will be waiting for them?

There are a whole lot of people in this community who would be really good at making that happen.

We cannot be there to say goodbye like we were in years past. The security concerns are just too great.

But we can let those who serve know that we are there for them, that we are going to be praying for them, and that we are eagerly awaiting their return home.

There are so many whose families cannot be there for them for many reasons — not the least of which is the expense of trying to get here.

So, we can stand in for them, too. It is what we would want for our children or grandchildren who might be on their own and facing such a momentous life shift.

We can think of ourselves as substitute parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings.

It matters. It does.

And coincidentally, this year’s N.C. Freedom Fest — the annual celebration honoring those who serve — is focusing on the military family, those unsung heroes who keep the home fires burning while their loved ones are overseas. We can’t think of a better way to support SJAFB’s heroes than to make sure their families know how much they are appreciated.

There is still plenty of time to be part of the efforts of the volunteers behind Freedom Fest to make it a tremendous experience for our local military families. Offer your support now — donations and volunteers are how these events happen.

And if you are a local business owner, this is a sponsorship that will make a statement — loud and clear — about the importance of supporting our troops. Be a part of the effort now. The earlier those donations come in, the more plans can be made to make this year’s Freedom Fest the best ever.

As the time goes on, there will be other efforts, from yellow ribbons and salutes to

events and support groups.

We know this community will be ready to make them happen. We know because we have watched it time and time again.

It is our chance to give back.

And we, of course, cannot discuss the details of any mission — and neither can the base — because of just how important it is to maintain operational security at a time like this. But we know many have already left and the rest are going soon.

So, it is not about where or when. Those specifics are best left confidential, especially in the world in which we now live when locating a spouse or pinpointing a location can be done with the click of a mouse.

There are a lot of bad people in the world today, and they would like nothing more than to cause damage to our military personnel.

So, while we have heard the buzz about the mission, and a couple public officials have mentioned the deployment publicly, this message is not about that.

This is about keeping our airmen and their families as safe as possible, as protected as possible, and making sure they have a family and a support structure right here at home in Wayne County.

We are ready to serve, to do our part. And there are many veterans in this community who once upon a time were young parents and new recruits called to leave their homes and their families.

They understand because they have been there. And they are ready to help, too.

We’ve said it before, and we will say it again. Wayne County has always known how to step up when it counts.

Well, this is one of those times.

And it is not because of the recent news about the shifting mission at SJAFB — although it goes without saying that any opportunity to show the politicians and brass in Washington just how committed we are to our base is one worth meeting head-on.

It is because of the thousands of men and women who have, over the many years Seymour has been an essential part of the fabric of our community, sacrificed for every single one of us.

So, to those meeting this moment today and in the days to come — to the hundreds of men and women who have dedicated their lives to being there for their nation and to protect the freedoms so many people take for granted — we say a simple “thank you.”

And we promise you that we will be there for your families while you are gone.

With that, until we meet again, we wish you Godspeed and a safe return — a return every single Wayne County resident will eagerly await as you, once again, selflessly carry a grateful community and nation on your shoulders.n

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A spending plan — and a warning Wayne County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard presented his proposed budget to the Board of Education — and sounded the alarm on everything from decreasing enrollment to the pending loss of COVID relief funds.

BY RENEE CAREY

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Q

uestions about a fleeting student population and a potential loss in millions in low-wealth funding.

A warning about the disappearance of COVID relief funds that have enabled Wayne County Public Schools to complete necessary facilities repair and maintenance projects.

A renewed call for an increase in county dollars.

And a promise of a fund balance and conservative stewardship of taxpayer funds.

WCPS Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard presented his proposed 2024-25 budget to the district’s Board of Education Monday — forecasting potential challenges and being transparent about the threat teacher shortages and non-public school options pose to the district.

So, as he and Chief Finance Officer Leslie Rouse outlined the nearly $202 million spending plan, which includes a proposed $24,598,814 in local funding, $3.4 million in capital outlays and an additional $6 million in special funding from the county, he made it clear that before the budget is a done deal, several factors would have to be taken into account by those charged with making the numbers work.

At the top of the list of Whichard’s concerns as the BOE begins its review of the proposal is a “projected” 17,142 ADM, or enrollment, based on past measurements.

And that number, which reflects a more than 1,500student decrease from 10 years ago, is critical.

“If ADM falls below 17,000, we will not meet the conditions of the special provisions (set up by the state legislature for low-wealth districts) and we will lose that low-wealth funding,” Rouse said.

Increases in charter and private school enrollments and recently approved school voucher expansions are just two of the factors that affect that enrollment number, Whichard said.

S

o, as he has done since he began his role less than a year ago, the superintendent used the meeting to make another push for increasing enrollment in county public schools — saying that some local charter schools are “performing lower than some of our lowest-performing schools” and adding that he hopes parents “will see the wisdom of returning to traditional public schools.”

But the years-long trend of parents pulling their children out of WCPS was not the only warning Whichard offered to the BOE. The superintendent also reminded board members that ESSER funds, millions of dollars school districts received postCOVID-19, are going away — soon. And while he said WCPS has positioned itself well to wean off those funds, there will be a loss, especially when it comes to the repair and maintenance projects that were completed locally with those funds in compliance with federal and state guidelines.

There is no gradual drop, Whichard added.

“Those funds are expiring,” he said. “Hence the term “(ESSER) cliff.”

That means if WCPS wants to continue with what he considers very necessary

maintenance projects, the county will have to step up.

Whichard also warned of increasing personnel costs — including a proposed 3-percent salary increase passed by state leaders for teachers — and the subsequent impact on other human resources costs such as pensions and insurance.

All of the above, plus a continuation of the district’s salary increases for classified employees, will put an additional stress on the district’s budget this year, Whichard and Rouse said.

And that means there will be a need to look for ways to pay those increased costs, a conversation he and other district personnel had with the Wayne County Board of Commissioners in mid-March.

“I would like to look at expanding our local revenue sources,” he said.

But there is more.

In addition to those concerns, Whichard said WCPS will continue to have to compete for what he told the board is a dwindling pool of certified personnel — teachers and administrators, as many experienced teachers are leaving the field altogether and few students are choosing education for a career.

That means Wayne County is going to have to work hard to attract candidates to fill its open jobs.

But how?

Whichard said improved working conditions and higher salaries and supplements are a way to bring the best teachers to WCPS. And all of that, he said, will take money — and more local support — because as expensive as all of that is, it doesn’t even take into account increasing utility rates and debt payments that will undoubtedly put stress on the district’s resources.

Still, Whichard brought a silver lining to the fore, noting that despite the financial challenges he knows are looming, his team is determined to meet many of the board’s top priorities — a $10 million fund balance (like an emergency savings account) as well as investment in safety and security and continued investment in campus revitalization, adding that the commitment to making sure “every expenditure is necessary and is focused on the top priority, the students” will remain the district’s mission.

Continued on page 18

WAYNE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADM ENROLLMENT TRENDS 19,511

Allotted ADM

17,452

15,000

10,000

5,000

'97-'98' 98-'99' 99-'00' '00-'01 '01-'02' 02-'03' 03-'04' 04-'05' 05-'06' 06-''07' '07-'08 '08-'09

'09-'10 '10-'11 11- '12- '12-'13 '13-'14 '14-'15 '15-'16 '16-'17 '17-'18 '18-'19 '19-'20 '20-'21 '21-'22 '22-'23 '23-'24

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. Wayne WEEK . 17

Continued from page 17

BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS & RISKS Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard informed the Board of Education that budgets are based on the future and involve several assumptions, some of which, create uncertainty for the district’s 2024-25 spending plan and could impact costs. They include:

STATE BUDGET: The State budget continues to be a concern. WCPS is monitoring the General Assembly to see what changes, if any, will be made during the short session. Any changes will have an impact on the school district’s overall operating budget in the coming year.

ADM ENROLLMENT: It is important to forecast a conservative projected ADM for FY 2024-2025. In the past, state funding allotments were based on the best 1 of 2 ADM of the district.

Starting with the FY 2024-2025, adjustments made to the ADM of the district will have an impact on State funding levels.

CHARTER SCHOOLS: Each month, WCPS is legislatively required to allocate funds to local public charter schools. WCPS cannot fully predict how much funding will be distributed in a given year, as allocations can change based on the school district’s enrollment, the school district’s total local revenues, and the enrollment of Wayne County students in local charter schools.

SCHOOL VOUCHER EXPANSION: The most recent budget from the General Assembly expanded North Carolina’s unaccountable private school voucher program by $250 million over the next two years, for a total of $4 billion over the next ten years.

WCPS is monitoring this expansion to see what impact it will have on the district’s operating budget in the coming year.

ESSER FUNDING CLIFF: The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent federal ESSER funding was a historic moment in public education. As one of the largest influxes of funding into the K-12 educational system, districts and schools had opportunities to fund initiatives and programs not possible before. Now, as ESSER funding ends in September 2024, educational leaders

18

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are challenged with tough decisions to determine what programs worked and deciding what to continue funding in the 2024-2025 school year.

LOCAL REVENUE SOURCES: Public school districts rely heavily upon local revenue sources such as Fines & Forfeitures, Medicaid, Pre-K, More at Four, local Sales Tax, and N.C. Sales Tax. Many of these revenue sources fluctuate from year to year.

IMPACT AID: Each year, the U.S. Department of Education provides WCPS funding for a portion of the costs of educating children whose families live on federal properties.

The program is designed to assist local school districts that have lost property tax revenues due to the presence of tax-exempt properties, or that have experienced increased expenditures due to the enrollment of federally connected students. WCPS cannot accurately know how much funding it will receive.

PENSION SPIKING: Employees who are members of the retirement system contribute 6% of their monthly employment to retirement. If an employee receives a significant salary increase during their career or in the years leading up to retirement, their monthly retirement benefit may be more than their expected contribution. Because there is a State Implemented Contribution Based Benefit Cap, a school district may have to pay for any benefits above the cap. WCPS cannot accurately predict if there will be any local impacts — and to what extent — from pension spiking when an employee retires.

UTILITY RATE INCREASE: WCPS cannot predict actual rate increases which could potentially impact its operating budget. Amounts included within this budget are based on the previous year and a potential increase.

B

efore the budget is “official,” several factors will come into play, Whichard told the board.

Among them is whether the Board of Commissioners comes to the table on funding requested by the school district — and presented both to those who attended the superintendent’s public budget reveal at the Maxwell Center at the end of February and to the commissioners themselves at a more intimate gathering in March that, at times, turned contentious.

And beyond the heated exchanges between the boards’ two former chairmen and longest-tenured members, Chris West and Joe Daughtery, that unfolded at the latter, the sides’ positions seemed fairly clear at that time.

For the commissioners, there was a willingness to listen to WCPS leaders about the needs of local schools — and entertain increasing local funding levels — if the money accompanied demonstrated performance improvements among students.

They wanted, put differently, a “return on the investment” many said they believe the county is already making.

District officials, however, remained steadfast in its belief that local spending is not enough — and below the mark set by neighboring communities. And they reiterated the notion that the lack of sufficient funding from the county was, in part, responsible for the difficulty in hiring teachers they say plays a role in the abhorrent academic performance numbers that contributed to WCPS’ newly minted “Low-Performing District” status.

Much of Whichard’s argument revolved around a comparison of Wayne to other school districts in the region he said illustrates what he believes is a not-good-enough per pupil spending level.

And while he conceded that several of those on the list were in coastal communities that had beach attractions that provide extra funding opportunities, he noted that Jones County, which he characterized as most similar to Wayne, spent $1,708 per student to Wayne’s $1,215 — a factor, he said, that significantly impacts the services WCPS is able to provide to its students.

But the commissioners have their own number — $1,382.11 — and contend that WCPS intentionally skewed the data by excluding big-ticket investments the board has made including funding of school resources officers and WISH health centers.

Whichard, though, still believes the county can, and should, increase its allocation, and has spent the last several months laying out many of the district’s needs to just about anyone who is willing to listen. And

from capital projects, like roofs at several schools and what he characterized as muchneeded parking lot repairs to improvements at athletic facilities, he said WCPS’ ask is a need, not a luxury.

“I know resources are tight,” he said when the two boards came together in March, adding that should the requested funds be allocated, commissioners would see a “significant return.”

Daughtery, who dominated the March conversation at the Maxwell Center, wasn’t moved.

“This side of the room does not have a money tree that we can shake,” he said. “I think you all have to accept that it is not only the money that is affecting these teachers.

Money is not the only factor in student performance and teacher (retention).”

And that reflected another problem between the boards when it comes to just what will happen from a local funding standpoint — that both believe they know the “real” story.

But the bottom line, Whichard said, is that if the county wants to attract and keep good teachers in what is a well-documented shortage of available professionals, it is going to have to sweeten the deal — that one way to accomplish that is for the commissioners to provide the money needed to increase teacher supplements.

“We have to be more attractive,” he said. “All I’m asking for is what can we do to compete? I am not saying that we are perfect. … The point is that we have got to do something locally to move the needle.”

Daughtery, though, was not convinced money was a cure-all — or that an increase in funding should come before WCPS can show results.

“We have some serious issues with regard to public education in Wayne County and we have got to find some solutions,” he said. “If that is increasing funding, it has to be tied to performance. Once we move the needle, then we provide more funds.”

The BOE will consider adoption of the proposal at its May 6 meeting, with May 15 as the deadline to provide the document to the commissioners for their review.

And while it remains to be seen if the county board will up its allocation to the district, at the end of the March meeting, Commission Chairman Chris Gurley said he and School Board Chairman Craig Foucht would begin discussions in an attempt to find a middle ground.

“I think both boards’ No. 1 priority is to remove our school system from lowperforming and bring them up — bring our graduation rate up, you know, higher than what it is. That’s our No. 1 priority and we as local leaders … our community, that’s what they expect,” he said then. “We’ve got to work together.” n

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. Wayne WEEK . 19

the SPECTATOR Golden Boys The Charles B. Aycock baseball team beat South Johnston Wednesday evening in Pikeville to remain undefeated in conference play.

The white-hot Golden Falcons are now 11-2 on the season.

Photos by Ken Fine

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